Second generation (PS)
2016 Kia Soul
The most reported problem on the 2016 Kia Soul is engine failure, with 227 complaints, usually around 88,000 miles.
- 814owner complaints
- 2recalls
- 28involved a crash
- 83,000median miles at failure
Newest report Sep 27, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
What is your Soul doing?
Each one opens a sheet built from the owner reports of that problem on the 2016 model year.
Is the 2016 Kia Soul reliable?
The 2016 Kia Soul has 814 owner complaints on file with NHTSA, 4.2 times the median of 195 for 2016 hatchbacks on this site. Of the 12 Soul model years since 2014, it has the 3rd most complaints. Complaint counts rise with sales as well as faults, so read what owners report below before deciding.
At a glance
- Next to the 2017
- At 74 complaints for each year on the road, the 2016 runs 2.7 times the 2017 (27). That's the only adjacent model year with enough complaints to set beside it.
- Top problem
- Two problems run close. Engine failure has 227 complaints and stalling has 215, out of 814 in all. A quarter of the 122 owners who gave a mileage for engine failure saw it by about 72,000 miles, and half by about 88,000.
- Crash, fire and injury reports
- 65 of the 814 complaints (8%) report a crash, a fire or an injury, a little above the 6% typical of vehicles on this site. Counted separately (one report can carry more than one), 28 reports mention a crash, 35 mention a fire and 25 people were hurt. The most crash reports, 13 of 28, fall under airbag.
- Recalls behind the top problems
- engine failure, stalling and misfire all have recalls on the same system, and the same campaigns cover them: 19V-120. A recall on the same system doesn't always cover the failure owners describe, so compare its summary with the complaints.
- When owners filed
- Filings peaked in 2022 at 134 and have dropped every year since, to 86 in 2025. So far in 2026, 58 more have come in.
When each problem shows up
Each bar covers the middle half of the mileages owners reported for that problem. A quarter saw it earlier, a quarter later. The tick is the median. Most reported: engine failure, knocking or rod bearing, 227 complaints.
middle half of reports, median tick. The heavier grey bars have 75 or more reports.
Behind you
Around your mileage
Ahead of you
How this compares
814 complaints is 3.2 times the median 2016 model on this site and 4.2 times the median 2016 hatchback. Among the 8 Soul model years here it ranks 3rd for complaints. Counts follow sales volume as much as reliability, so a truck that sells 700,000 a year draws more reports than a sedan that sells 200,000.
Service bulletins for the 2016 Kia Soul
Kia filed 132 bulletins and other notices with NHTSA that list the 2016 Kia Soul. 31 of them deal with a problem owners have reported on this car. Newest first.
Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.
Engine failure, knocking or rod bearing 2 bulletins · 227 complaints
PITSTOP: LOW OIL PRESSURE AT IDLE AFTER GAMMA 1.6L GDI SHORT BLOCK ENGINE REPLACEMENT This bulletin provides information equipped with a Gamma 1.6L GDI regarding a 'low oil pressure' concern during engine idle on vehicles engine due to a missing dowel pin, after a short block engine replacement.
PITSTOP: DTC P0011/ P0014/ P0016/ P0017 DUE TO INCORRECT CAMSHAFT RELUCTOR WHEEL CONFIGURATION This Pitstop provides information on some 2010-2013MY Soul (AM), 2014-2019MY Soul (PS), and 2020~MY Soul (SK3) vehicles equipped with the engines listed below, which may set DTC P0011, P0014, P0016, or P0017 after an engine replacement.
Check engine light or misfire 6 bulletins · 207 complaints
SERVICE ACTION: 1.6L GDI WITH MIL ON DTC P050A ECM LOGIC IMPROVEMENT (SA485) This bulletin provides the procedure to update the software logic of the Engine Control Module (ECM) system on some 2014-2016MY Soul (PS) vehicles with Gamma 1.6L GDI engines, produced from August 29, 2013 through July 26, 2016, which may exhibit an MIL ON ...
TSB - ECU UPGRADE ? DTC P0441 LOGIC IMPROVEMENT bulletin provides information related to the Engine Control Unit (ECU) software upgrade for some 2012-2016MY Rio (UB), 2014-2016MY Soul (PS), and 2012-2013MY Soul (AM) vehicles, which may have a malfunction indicator light (MIL) ON with DTC P0441: Evaporative ...
4 more on this problem
PITSTOP INTERMITTENT LACK OF POWER OR HESITATION UPON ACCELERATION - RESTRICTED FUEL LINE - Customers may experience an intermittent lack of power or hesitation upon acceleration. The malfunction indicator lamp may not illuminate or DTC P0087 may be stored (history).
SERVICE ACTION: ECU UPGRADE DTC P0441 LOGIC IMPROVEMENT (SA280) - This bulletin provides information related to the Engine Control Unit (ECU) software upgrade for some 2012-2016MY Rio (UB), 2014-2016 Soul (PS), and 2012-2013MY Soul (AM) vehicles, which may have a MIL on with DTC P0441: ...
COMBINATION TSB / SERVICE ACTION: ECU UPGRADE ? DTC P0441 LOGIC IMPROVEMENT (SA280) This bulletin provides information related to the Engine Control Unit (ECU) software upgrade for some 2012-2016MY Rio (UB), 2014-2016 Soul (PS), and 2012-2013MY Soul (AM) vehicles, which may have a MIL on with DTC P0441: Evaporative Emissions System Incorrect ...
PITSTOP: MANUAL EVAPORATIVE EMISSIONS TEST FOR HARD TO FIND/SMALL LEAKS If the malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) is illuminated with DTC(s) P0442, P0455, P0456, or P0457 (Evaporative Emissions System-Leak detected) and the evaporative (EVAP) leak self-test resulted in NTF, a manual EVAP test is recommended.
Engine knocking or ticking 7 bulletins · 111 complaints
PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN: ENGINE REPLACEMENT INSTRUCTIONS FOR DTC P1326 (PI2002Y/Z) This bulletin provides information related to the Technical Service Bulletin previously published in (PI2002A, PI2002B and SC200**1) titled “Knock Sensor Detection System - ECU Logic Improvement”.
ENGINE REPLACEMENT INSTRUCTIONS FOR DTC P1326 (PI2002Y/Z) This bulletin provides information related to the Technical Service Bulletin previously published in (PI2002A, PI2002B and SC200**1) titled "Knock Sensor Detection System - ECU Logic Improvement".
5 more on this problem
PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN 1.6L GDI KNOCK SENSOR DETECTION SYSTEM (KSDS) LOGIC IMPROVEMENT (PI2002A) - This bulletin provides information related to a software update to the Engine Control Unit (ECU) to install the Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) in order to protect the engine ...
PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN NU 2.0L GDI - KNOCK SENSOR DETECTION SYSTEM (KSDS) ECU UPGRADE (PI2002B) - This bulletin provides information related to a software update to the Engine Control Unit (ECU) to install the Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) in order to protect the engine from ...
TSB - PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN: NU 2.0L GDI KNOCK SENSOR DETECTION SYSTEM (KSDS) ECU UPGRADE (PI2002B) - This bulletin provides information related to a software update to the Engine Control Unit (ECU) to install the Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) in order to protect the engine from excessive ...
TSB - PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN (PI2002B) NU 2.0L GDI - KNOCK SENSOR DETECTION SYSTEM (KSDS) LOGIC IMPROVEMENT - This bulletin provides information related to a software update to the Engine Control Unit (ECU) to install the Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) in order to protect the engine from ...
TSB - KNOCK SENSOR DETECTION SYSTEM (KSDS) LOGIC IMPROVEMENT (PI2002) This bulletin provides information related to a software update to the Engine Control Unit (ECU) to install the Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) in order to protect the engine from excessive connecting rod bearing damage.
Burns oil or oil level rises 5 bulletins · 95 complaints
EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION NU/GAMMA/THETA/KAPPA ENGINES This bulletin provides information on diagnosing and/or repairing some 2011-2024MY vehicles (refer to the table on pages 9 and 10 for applicable models and engine), which may exhibit a symptom of excessive oil consumption.
EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION NU/GAMMA/THETA/KAPPA ENGINES This bulletin provides information on diagnosing and/or repairing some 2011-2021MY vehicles (refer to the tables on pages 8-9 for applicable models and engine), which may exhibit a symptom of excessive oil consumption.
3 more on this problem
EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION NU/GAMMA/THETA/KAPPA ENGINES This bulletin provides information on diagnosing and/or repairing some 2011-2019MY vehicles (refer to table below for applicable model and engine), which may exhibit a symptom of excessive oil consumption.
EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION NU/GAMMA/THETA ENGINES This bulletin provides information on diagnosing and/or repairing some 2011-2019MY vehicles (refer to table below for applicable model and engine), which may exhibit a symptom of excessive oil consumption.
EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION NU/GAMMA ENGINES - This bulletin provides information on diagnosing and/or repairing some 2012-2019MY Soul (AM/PS) vehicles (refer to table below for applicable engine), which may exhibit a symptom of excessive oil consumption.
Rod bearing failure 6 bulletins · 35 complaints
OWNER NOTIFICATION This document is the owner notification advising that Kia is conducting a Product Improvement Campaign to perform a software update on 2014-2016 MY Kia Soul vehicles equipped with 2.0-liter engines to protect the engine from excessive connecting rod bearing ...
OWNER NOTIFICATION This document is the renotification to the 2014-2016 MY Soul vehicle owners advising them to have the Product Improvement Campaign (PI2002B) performed.
4 more on this problem
OWNER NOTIFICATION This document is the notification to the owners of all 2012-2016 MY Soul vehicles equipped with 1.6L Gasoline Direct Injection ("GDI") engines to protect the engine from excessive connecting rod bearing damage (PI2002A).
PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT Dealer Service Manager Letter - This document is the notice to the dealer service managers advising them that Kia is conducting a Product Improvement Campaign to perform a software update to the Engine Control Unit (ECU) to protect the engine from excessive ...
PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN (PI2002A) IMPORTANT NOTICE to customers - On February 21, 2020, Kia Motors America, Inc. notified you that it was conducting a Product Improvement Campaign to perform a software update to protect the engine from excessive connecting rod bearing damage on the 2012-2016 ...
DEALER SERVICE MANAGER NOTICE (PI2002A) This document is the notification to the Dealer Service Manager advising of a new a Product Improvement Campaign to perform a software update to the Engine Control Unit (ECU) to protect the engine from excessive connecting rod bearing damage on all 2012~2016 ...
Brakes grind, pulse or wear early 1 bulletin · 20 complaints
VOLUNTARY SERVICE CAMPAIGN: UNDERBODY INSPECTION & ANTI-CORROSION MATERIAL APPLICATION (SC334) This bulletin provides information to apply additional anti-corrosion material to underbody components, including inspection/replacement of the brake line(s), on certain 2014-2019MY Soul (PS) vehicles produced from July 21, 2013 through December 24, 2018, and ...
Battery dies or the car will not start 1 bulletin · 11 complaints
SERVICE ACTION: LOW VOLTAGE DC-DC CONVERTER (LDC) SYSTEM LOGIC IMPROVEMENT (SA201) THIS BULLETIN PROVIDES INFORMATION RELATED TO THE REPROGRAMMING OF THE LOW VOLTAGE DC-DC CONVERTER (LDC) SYSTEM OF SOME 2015~2016MY SOUL EV (PS EV) VEHICLES, PRODUCED FROM JOB# 1 THROUGH AUGUST 17, 2015, TO PREVENT THE POSSIBILITY OF 12V BATTERY DISCHARGE ...
Headlights too dim or fail 3 bulletins · 11 complaints
INFORMATION FOR HEADLAMP CONDENSATION AND MOISTURE This bulletin provides information relating to some Kia models that may exhibit fogging, condensation, and/or moisture inside a headlamp assembly.
HALOGEN HEAD LAMP LOW BEAM BULB CONNECTOR REPLACEMENT This bulletin provides information regarding the procedure to repair the bulb connector on some 2010MY~ vehicles listed on the table below, which may exhibit a bulb connector concern. To correct this concern, replace the connector with a new and improved part.
1 more on this problem
PITSTOP: HEADLIGHTS FLICKER/INTERMITTENTLY OPERATE OR REMAIN ON INDEFINITELY If a customer has a concern regarding intermittent flickering, inoperative headlights, or that the headlights stay on indefinitely after the vehicle is turned off, confirm the following actions in this publication have been performed, when applicable.
Complaints filed by year
134 complaints came in 2022. Owners file in waves when a problem gets press or an investigation, so a spike measures attention as much as failures.
NHTSA investigations
Engine fires. Closed feb 5, 2024, led to recall 23V-877.
NHTSA summary
Recalls that include the 2016 Kia Soul
Whether your car is included depends on its VIN. Check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2012-2016 Kia Soul vehicles equipped with 1.6L Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI) engines. High exhaust gas temperatures may damage the catalytic converter, possibly resulting in abnormal engine combustion and damage to one or more of the engine's pistons and possible piston connecting rod failure.
Risk and remedy
Remedy: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will upgrade the Catalytic Overheating Protection Engine Control Unit logic to prevent overheating of the catalytic converter. In addition, the catalytic converter will also be replaced if it has been damaged. Depending on the extent of any damage, the engine may also be replaced, free of charge. The recall began April 17, 2019. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC176.
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2014-2016 Soul and Soul EV vehicles. The pinion plug may allow the pinion gear to separate from the steering gear assembly.
Risk and remedy
Remedy: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and secure the pinion plug or replace the steering gear assembly, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 16, 2017. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC155. Note: This recall supersedes campaigns 14V-332 and 15V-736. Vehicles previously remedied under those numbers are being recalled again under this campaign.
All 2 recalls on the 2016 Kia Soul, with the owner complaints on each recalled system
Guide Buying one used? How to research one car’s history before you pay
Questions
What is the most common problem on the 2016 Kia Soul?
Engine failure, with 227 of the 814 complaints. Owners who gave a mileage for it put the median at about 88,000 miles.
At what mileage do 2016 Kia Soul problems start?
Of the 429 complaints that give a mileage, a quarter came by about 60,000 miles and half by about 83,000.
Is the 2016 Kia Soul better or worse than the 2017?
Counted per year on the road, the 2016 has more complaints than the 2017: 74 a year against 27.
How many 2016 Kia Soul complaints involve a crash, fire or injury?
65 of them (8%). The typical vehicle on this site is at 6%.
Is there a recall for engine failure on the 2016 Kia Soul?
Yes, NHTSA lists a recall on the same system: 19V-120. Its summary says which failure it covers, and that isn't always the one owners describe.